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EVA Air, the Hello Kitty airline, to join Star Alliance on 18th June

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However many planes you have flown on, I bet you’ve never flown on one that looks sillier than this:

Welcome to the world of EVA Air, the Taiwan-based airline! Luckily, it is the only airline that runs a ‘Hello Kitty’ themed plane. In fact, it runs FIVE ‘Hello Kitty’ themed planes, such is the demand for them.

You may soon get your chance to try them out, as EVA Air joins the other 26 airlines in Star Alliance on June 18th.

More seriously, this is good news for anyone with Star Alliance miles heading to Asia, as it opens up even more redemption options (as if Thai, Air China, Asiana, ANA etc wasn’t already enough!). And the great news is that EVA does not just fly to Taipei from London – the flights all stop in Bangkok on the way.

EVA also has a fantastic business class seat which is due to be added to the London route during 2013.

Whilst Taiwan is unlikely to be your end point for any planned trip, EVA has a good pan-Asian network, so one change should get you to where you want to go. There is no view yet on how good seat availability will be, but you will be able to book from June 18th.

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How to earn Star Alliance miles from UK credit cards

How to earn Star Alliance miles from UK credit cards (April 2025)

None of the Star Alliance airlines currently have a UK credit card.

There is, however, still a way to earn Star Alliance miles from a UK credit card. 

The route is via Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy hotel loyalty points convert to over 40 airlines at the rate of 3:1.

The best way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points is via the official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card. It comes with 20,000 points for signing up and 2 points for every £1 you spend. At 2 Bonvoy points per £1, you are earning (at 3:1) 0.66 airline miles per £1 spent on the card.

There is a preferential conversion rate to United Airlines – which is a Star Alliance member – of 2 : 1 if you convert 60,000 Bonvoy points at once.

The Star Alliance members which are Marriott Bonvoy transfer partners are: Aegean, Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Avianca, Copa Airlines, Singapore Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines.

You can apply here.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express

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General

Comments (5)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Paul says:
    29 Apr29 April 06:50

    Last time we were in Hong Kong my 5 year old got disappointed that we weren’t going on the Hello Kitty plane back to London.

    Taipei is meant to be alright according to a few of my friends. I have never been there myself

  • Ninmurai says:
    29 Apr29 April 11:06

    What might be of use in the weeks to come is how BR’s earning/redeeming charts will look and their status qualification criteria. At present it’s nigh-on impossible to get anything above Silver tier and redemption charts being nearly an order of magnitude off competitors.

  • GnarlyOldGoatDude says:
    29 Apr29 April 11:12

    Hello Kitty was born in London, so it would make sense if we get to see some of those aircraft “come home”.

  • creampuff says:
    29 Apr29 April 14:35

    This is legendary. This is what the world needs – more Hello Kitty aircraft. I’m serious.

    I’ve flown on EVA several times and they are a good airline (although with crap food in Y and Y+). At the time I last flew with them around 2008, unlike other airlines, premium economy was very reasonably priced at around 25% more than basic economy.

    I didn’t get to go on the Hello Kitty aircraft, although I would love to. For Hello Kitty fans, you can stay in a Hello Kitty suite in Taiwan and also get the hotel to pick you up in a Hello Kitty car.

    This really makes me want to move to Taiwan.

  • Steve Blower says:
    29 Apr29 April 22:39

    You should think about Taiwan as a destination actually. Taipei, the capital, is such an interesting place, and the countryside can be stunning, too.
    I am biased, I lived there a few years.
    EVA does have good service, too, and recently had very attractive fares in J from time to time, usually via Opodo.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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